Somewhere between five and 20 percent of people in the U.S. will come down with the flu this year. If that doesn’t make you want to reach for the hand sanitizer, then we don’t know what will. But it can take more than keeping hands clean. Cleansing the nasal passages also relieves congestion and the swelling that can harbor bacteria or infection. The new SinuCleanse Micro-Filtered Nasal Wash System clears tap water of any microorganisms and then rinses out nasal passages safely with a gentle flush.

]]>http://www.bestselfatlanta.com/blog/whats-in-your-water/feed/0What’s New with Fluhttp://www.bestselfatlanta.com/blog/whats-new-with-flu/
http://www.bestselfatlanta.com/blog/whats-new-with-flu/#commentsWed, 10 Sep 2014 14:18:30 +0000http://www.bestselfatlanta.com/blog/?p=7741Continue reading →]]>Each year as flu season looms, doctors and nurses remind the public to get their flu shots. This month Penny Conner, a nurse consultant for the immunization program at the Georgia Department of Public Health, recaps the latest updates from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

“The ACIP met in June,” Conner says, “and they are recommending that healthy children get the nasal spray flu vaccine as opposed to the shot.” Typically the ACIP does not recommend a specific type of flu vaccine, she says, but recent studies suggest that the nasal spray offers better protection than the shot. It’s important that it only be administered to healthy recipients, though, because the spray is a live vaccine.

Conner also points out that, whether you choose the shot or the spray, “Since 2010, we have suggested that everyone over six months of age get a flu vaccine with very few exceptions.”

Another development Conner mentions is a flu vaccine developed without eggs. Some flu vaccines are created using chicken eggs, but if you are allergic or live a vegan lifestyle, opt for the egg-free version that became available last fall.

A: You can still get the flu despite being vaccinated if you were infected prior to the vaccination, since symptoms start one to four days after the flu virus enters the body. Chances are you become infected during the two weeks it took for the vaccination to be fully effective. Another possibility is a different flu strain than the one used to create the vaccine infected you, though the vaccine still offers some protection in this case. The flu shot and hand hygiene are still the best ways to prevent you from contracting the flu.

Do you have questions for our doctors? If so, please email your questions to editorial@bestselfatlanta.com.